Storm leaders demand discipline

Roy Ward

MELBOURNE Storm full-back Billy Slater has joined captain Cam Smith in demanding the team fix its discipline and defensive problems.

The Storm has lost two straight matches after winning their first three and on Sunday lost 28-26 to Gold Coast Titans at AAMI Park with the Titans winning on a last-minute penalty goal after a questionable penalty against the Storm.

Melbourne prop Dayne Weston, who made his debut for the Storm, will be punished for a moment of undisciplined play after being reported for a grade two dangerous contact - unnecessary head or neck pressure charge after an incident with Gold Coast's David Mead on Sunday.

Weston will miss one match if he takes an early plea or two matches if found guilty without taking the plea.

If suspended, Weston will join suspended fellow prop Jordan McLean on the sidelines.

The Storm has yet to announce if it will appeal or accept McLean’s seven-game suspension for a dangerous throw tackle.

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Slater said the side had to continue to measure itself on its performances and right now it is not living up to expectations.

''We try and measure ourselves off our performances rather than the result and certainly the performances in the past few weeks haven't been up to our standard,'' Slater said.

''The discipline and giving away a few penalties is one area and the defence is another as we have leaked a lot of points in the past few weeks.

''It's not like us at the Melbourne Storm so I'm sure Craig [Bellamy] and the coaching staff will be looking at that over the next week or so.''

Smith questioned his side's attitude to defence following the loss to the Titans adding that the team had conceded 88 points in the past three matches.

''We have let in about 90 points in the past three games, you can't win when you are letting in 30 points a game,'' Smith said.

''We would like to minimise the metres teams make coming off their own try line.

''In saying that, we are not defending well when they get down our end,'' he said.

"It's like it's there when we want it to be, then if we don't want it to be, they score points.

''It's quite frustrating - defence is an attitude, if you want to stop teams you will stop them and if you don't want to do the hard work then you won't and they will score points.''

Slater agreed with Smith's assessment but added that the team had to also keep with its set-up when defending close to their try line.

''There is an element of attitude involved and certainly there is some structural things as well on the try line - there is a bit to work on,'' Slater said.

The Storm has a full week to work on its defence ahead of hosting St George Dragons at AAMI Park this coming Monday night.

Slater also asked whether the NRL should institute a ''captain's challenge'' rule to avoid wrong decisions deciding matches, such as many at the Storm believe happened on Sunday.

Titans star Greg Bird won the match with his penalty goal after the referee judged a Storm player knocked the ball out of Luke Douglas' hands but replays appeared to show it slipped out without direct interference.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy called the decision ''disgraceful'', although Slater simply said it was disappointing to lose in that manner.

Slater put the blame for the loss on the Storm's inconsistent defence and poor rate of penalties, he has questioned whether the NRL should take a page out of cricket's rule book and allow captains to challenge one decision in the final minutes of a game.

''It's a little disappointing to have games decided in that manner but it's the way footy goes - we have to get on with things,'' Slater said.

''Maybe there is room for a captain's challenge there in the last five or 10 minutes.

''But there are decisions in the game that go against you and go for you - that's just the way the referee saw it and we have to live with that mate.''

Slater also said he was happy to hear Newcastle Knights player Alex McKinnon had announced his engagement - McKinnon broke two vertebrae in his neck against the Storm last month.

''Obviously it's a positive thing for him and I'm just like everyone else in the rugby league world, I wish him all the best and all the best in his recovery,'' Slater said.

''It's an emotional issue for everyone involved in rugby league and we wish everyone involved with him the best.''

Slater also hosted his annual Billy's Buddies rugby league clinic at Gosch's paddock on Monday with 420 or so children running around with ''Slater 1'' on the back of their T-shirts.

''They're not all mine mate,'' Slater joked.

''I personally look forward to this day, my kids are out here and some of the other boys' children are here as well.

''I know plenty of parents from interstate and regional Victoria have travelled here for this day so it's great to see so many purple shirts and number 1 on their backs - I hope they all have a good day.''

The Storm face St George Dragons at AAMI Park this coming Monday night at 7pm.